Artful by
Peter David combines classic storytelling with modern style. Some years after Oliver Twist left his
company and Fagin had been executed, Dodger finds himself among new
friends. After all, who else would the
son of Van Helsing go to if he needed help in London?
Dodger
will always be Dodger, a rogue element, but he certainly gained hero points in
this narrative. First, he saved a
princess without knowing who she was. When
he found out her lineage, he and the Van Helsing boy use The Artful’s talents
to save Buckingham palace, and indeed, the whole of England.
What I
liked most about this book is that it wasn’t a classic with vampires stuck in
random places. This work is intelligent
and well written based on some of the characters in Dickens’ classic that David
took efforts to flesh out and build a proper plot around.
Though it
is not a steampunk novel per se, Artful can stylistically fit into that
category, probably owing to the mix of classic and modern literature and
legends.
It’s fun, frightening, action packed and edgy, but it will
sneak past you if you’re not careful.
Make sure all your friends pick this up it’s a worthy read.
